During a town hall event in Iowa on Thursday night, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley faced jeers from the crowd. The backlash stemmed from her recent comments made at a New Hampshire event, where she suggested that New Hampshire would “correct” the way Iowans vote in their upcoming caucuses.
This incident comes at a time when her primary rivals for the presidential nomination are intensifying their criticisms of the former South Carolina governor. Haley is locked in a battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for a second-place position, with both candidates trailing the frontrunner in the race, former President Donald Trump.
Haley’s remarks in Iowa were in response to a question during a CNN town hall about her comments in New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, she had stated, “Iowa starts it. You know that you correct it… and then my sweet state of South Carolina brings it home. That’s what we do!”
DeSantis’ campaign wasted no time in condemning her comments as “insulting” to Iowa voters. DeSantis himself criticized her during a radio interview, calling her characterization of Iowa voters “disrespectful.”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who has endorsed DeSantis, took to social media to express her support for Iowa voters, stating, “I trust Iowans to make their own decisions. No ‘corrections’ needed!”
In response to the booing she faced in Iowa, Haley explained that her comments in New Hampshire were made in a light-hearted spirit, emphasizing the friendly banter between the early voting states. She stressed that in South Carolina, they are aware that Iowa holds the first caucuses, followed by New Hampshire’s primary, while South Carolina was the first in the South to vote for presidential candidates, leading to some playful rivalry.
However, Haley’s comments did not sit well with conservative voices in Iowa. Some prominent figures, including key evangelical leaders, criticized her remarks and highlighted her standing in the state. State Representative Jon Dunwell and his colleague John Wills expressed their disappointment, with Wills noting that Haley’s comments reflect her concerns and need to spin the situation. State Representative Skyler Wheeler called it a “disaster” for Haley and asserted that Iowa values conservatism.
On another front, former President Trump has redirected his criticism toward Haley, labeling her a “sellout” and targeting her positions on taxes and immigration. Haley’s campaign responded by suggesting that Trump’s focus on her indicates that he sees her as a formidable competitor, asserting that “This is a two-person race between Nikki and Trump,” according to campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas.
